Once you are ready to start specifically preparing for the Commercial Pilot Checkride, download and print this Practical Test Checklist, complete it, and bring it with you to the checkride. There is a lot of information in the Practical Test Checklist. Please take your time to read it all. This document is periodically updated. For CFIs that have used me before, please download the latest version before every checkride. Thank you.
Embedded Files
A note on Pilot Logbooks. Inability to qualify the applicant due to missing experience is the number one reason why we are unable to complete the test during the appointment. This is frustrating for the applicant and instructor and wastes all of our time. My nature is to operate in the Black and White, not the grey. If I am not comfortable with what you are presenting, I will not start the test, regardless of how well you try to argue its legality. Don't 'push it' when it comes to how you decide to interpret the regs. Imagine if you were asked to write the reg on what experience was required to get a rating. Think about what that person was intending the applicant to learn, and don't try to bend the rule. I call this the 'spirit of the regulation'. Let me give a few examples.
Student has a XC from AJO - RNM - AJO. Logs 1.8 solo. The next solo flight is the same routing but logs 3.2 solo. When asked how the same flight took more than an hour longer, the applicant tells me they practiced slow flight the whole way. Is this illegal? I guess not. Will I accept this? No. The 'spirit of regulation' for cross country flight is to learn how to navigate by pilotage and dead reckoning, create and follow a navlog using aircraft performance charts, to get away from the familiarity of the home airport and enter the pattern at a foreign destination, etc. Take advantage of this. Enjoy the process. Go to different airports and get that hundred dollar hamburger! Don't try to outsmart the reg.
Student does dual cross country at night from AJO - CMA - AJO. Logs 2.5 night and 2.1 under the hood. CFI says, well you know we just wanted to knock out as many requirements in the same flight as possible so we flew the whole flight under the hood. What? no... Did you teach the night illusions? What about how to spot the airport at night and find the rotating beacon? How to navigate at night when landmarks are difficult to see? Sure, log a little hood time if you'd like, but not the majoity of the flight. Spend the Night Flying to teach Night Flying.
Applicant owns private 172. Finished all training 5 months ago but couldn't schedule the test due to work constraints. A week before the test, he grabs his CFI and they fly a dual cross country that's 3.1 to log the 3 hours with an instructor in the previous two calendar months. Not ok... 61.109(a)(4) specifically states "in preparation for the test". These three hours should be checkride prep and the remarks should indicate that or the list of maneuvers practiced.
Applicant failed on short field landing. Applicant shows up for retest and has no additional flight training in logbook but did log an hour of ground school and has the required endorsement. When questioned, the CFI explains that the reg does not specify flight training. Hmm, ok... so you taught your student the art of the flare and touchdown from a whiteboard?
And folks, if the requirement is 50 hours, why show up with 50.3 when you could show up with 59. When you show up with 50.3, I'm going to total it myself, and if your arithmetic is off and you actually have 49.1, well, there goes the test.
Commercial PTC.pdfPage updated
Google Sites
Report abuse